Tongs



March 29, 1932. s. E. McQUlGG 1,851,923

TONGS Original Filed May 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllll I IN V EN TOR.

44 4am: FYMMI$JZZ 14; ATTORNEYS.

March 29, 1932.

s E MOQUIGG 1,851,923

TONGS Original Filed May 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

Will/11111114 IIIIIIIIIIII l I I O IN VEN TOR.

Wf/w

5 10; ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 29,1932

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SANFORD E. MCQUIGG, ,OF .IBRACKENRIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ALLEGHENY STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA TONGS Application filed May 15, 1928, Serial No. 277,974. Renewed August 1, 1929.

' This invention relates to improvements in tong construction and more particularly to tongs of the type used for handling ingots, ingot molds and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved construction embodying as a unit, tongs and tongoperating means adapted to be suspended from an ordinary crane hook.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a work handling unit that comprises in general, a platform'or carriage, from or on which a manipulator or grappling device may be turnably supported, and motor driven means for turning the manipulator relative to the platform or carriage and for operating the manipulator or grappling device to or from work seizing position, which unit may be pendulously suspended from a flexible support such as a crane cable, and when so suspended the manipulator or grappling device may be turned without twisting the flexible support, or causing the platform or carriage to turn about its point of suspens1on.

Another object of this invention is to provide tongs of flexible construction by means of which one unit may be used with a plurality of cranes of any desired construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide tongs embodying as a unit comprising tongs, means for opening and closing the tongs and means for rotating the tongs.

A still further object of this invention is to provide tongs having the above characteristics wherein the jaws of the tongs are provided with means for maintaining them in parallel relation at all times and thereby permitting a more flexible use of the tongs in limited spaces.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of this invention. as changes may be made in the construction and operation disclosed herein, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of the invention and showing the arrangement of the tong operating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1 showing the tongs in open position; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the tongs partly in closed position and in engagement with a body to be lifted.

In the drawings, a Work handling unit is illustrated that may be pendulously suspended (i. e. suspended at a single point) from a flexible support such as a crane cable indicated at C. As shown, the unit is suspended from a crane hook 72, which of course is suitably attached to the flexible support or cable C.

The work handling unitrcomprises ingeneral a platform or carriage 11 and a manipu-,

lator or grappling device M turn-ably sup ported from or mounted on the platform.

Means, indicated generally by reference character 13, includes mechanism for operating the manipulator or grappling device M to or from work or load seizing, gripping or holding position, while means, indicated generally by reference character 14, are provided for turning the manipulator or grappling device relative to the platform or carriage 11.

The manipulator or grappling device M includes a frame or housing 12 to the top of which agear 15 is rigidly secured by bolts 16 or other suitable means. Gear 15 is provided with a hub or shank 17 that extends upwardly through platform or carriage 11. A bearing ring R, rigidly secured to the hub at its upper end is employed to support the manipulator M in. place. An anti-friction thrust bearing 18 interposed between ring R and the platform 11 is provided sothat the manipulator M may be easily turned relative to the platform or carriage l1.

ManipulatorM also includes tongs jaws 19 and 21 mounted on horizontal shafts 22 and 23 spaced vertically. The frame 12 of the manipulator is provided, on two of its opposite side walls, with a pair of curved guideways 24 extending downwardly from the top thereof and inwardly towards the center at the bottomedge of said Walls, for cooperating with the ends of shafts 23, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

For controlling; the movement of the jaws 19 and 21, the manipulator M is provided with a vertical post 25 disposed within the frame 12, the upper end of which is adapted to be received by a cylindrical opening in the top of the frame 12, gear 15 and its hub portion 17. The post 25 is raised and lowered by the means 13, which will hereinafter be described.

The vertical post 25 is provided with horizontal shafts 27, 28 and 29 extending therethrough in vertically spaces relation. The ends of the shafts 27 and 28 are disposed in verticalguideways 31 and 32 in the opposite side walls of frame 12. These guideways 31 and 32 permit a predetermined vertical movement of the shafts 27 and 28 and thereby limit the movement of the vertical post 25. Each of the shafts 23 is connected to the shaft 27 by suitable toggles 34 and 35 and each of the shafts 22 is connected to the shaft 29 by suitable toggles 36 and 37. It can therefore be seen that as the vertical post moves upwardly or downwardly, the shafts 27 and 28 move along their respective verticalguideways 31 and 32 and the shafts 23 move along their respective guide ways 24. The toggles 36 and 37 operate to maip-tain the jaws 19 and 21 in parallel relation at all times.

The toggles 34 and 35 are provided with gear racks 38 and 39, respectively.- These gear racks 38 and 3-9 are adapted to engage and cooperate with gear racks 41 and 42 disposed on the opposite side walls of the frame 12 for maintaining the jaws 19 and 21 in aligned position at all times, that is, in case one of the jaws strikes an objectthat retards its downward movement, the respective gear racks cooperate to simultaneously stop the other jaw from further movement. In this way, the jaws are maintained at all times in aligned position so that they will grasp 'a body to be lifted on the opposite sides thereof and maintain such body in a more equally supported or balanced position.

The ends of the shafts 22, 23, 27 and 28 are preferably provided with bearings for engaging the respective guideways 24, 31 and 32. j

The vertical post 25 is connected to the manipulator operating means 13 by means of a rod 43 having a suitable chain 44 fastened to its upper end which passes over a sheave 45 and engages one end of a friction block 46 disposed on a friction drum 47. The other end of the friction block 46 is connected to a resilient means 48 by means of a chain 49 passing around a sheave 51 for maintaining the friction block 46 taut with the surface of the friction drum 47.

Within the friction drum is disposed a Wvhich in turn carries the ratchet 52.

In order to close the tongs, the means 13 is actuated to rotate the ratchet 52 in a clockwise direction and thereby permit the chain 44 to slacken, which permits the jaws 19 and 21 to fallby virtue of their own weight and in doing so, carries the verticalpost and cooperating toggles downward.

It will also: be seen that overtravel of the means 13 is permitted during the closing of the tongs by means of the pawls 53' of the ratchet 52 sliding over the teeth 54 within the friction drum 47, and during whichtime the chain 44 is kept taut by the resilient means 48.

The means 14, for turning the manipulator M containing the jaws 19 and 21, comprises a. motor 62 and speed reducer 63. The shaft 64 of the speed reducer is provided with a pinion 65 that meshes with a gear 66 disposed at the top of a vertical shaft 67. The lower end of the shaft 67 is provided with a pinion '68 that meshes with gear 15 fixed to the top of the frame 12. The carriage or platform 11 is provided with a pair of uprights or supports 69 having a transverse pin 71 to engage the hook 72. The supports also engage the sheave block S (see Figs 2 and 3), in which the crane hook 72 is swiivell 1 supported, in such manner that relative turning between the sheave block and cables, and the' platform is prevented. It can, therefore, be seen that byactuating the means 14 in either direction, manipulator M may be turned as a unit, relative to platform 11, without turning the platform'or twisting the flexible supports or cables C.

It can be seen from the above that the present tongs form a manipulator unit that may be used interchangeably with a plurality of cranes of any desired construction,

that the unit comprises tongs having means for opening and closing the jaws thereof, means for turning the tongs about its vertical axis while the unit is pendulously suspended from a flexible cable and means for maintaining the aws of the tongs in parallel relation at all times, as well as maintaining the jaws of the tongs in aligned position. This construction provides tongs that may be operated with such flexibility as to render the tongs adaptable for a wider range of uses than the tongs that have heretofore been provided.

The fact that the jaws of the tongs are maintained in parallel relation at all times is of considerable advantage over the usual construction of pivoting the jaws of the tongs at their upper end. It will readily be seen that in maintaining the jaws of the tongs in parallel. relation, the jaws may be inserted in a smaller space than if they were permitted to take an angular position, one with the other. This feature is very important in handling ingots and ingot molds to and from soaking pits and the like.

At the bottom of the frame 12 is provided a plurality of hook por'tions70 formed by cutting away portions of the frame 12, as shown at 73. These hook portions are used for engaging with any suitable means for pulling the tongs one way or the other, should such an action be desired, and for the purpose of engaging chains or rope slings for lifting objects not adaptable to lifting with the tongs, without removing said tongs from crane hooks.

On the tong jaws 19 and 21, are provided a plurality of hook or projection portions 74; and 7 5, formed by casting integral with jaws or by separate pieces attached thereto by other means, as shown. These hooks or projection portions are used for engaging with any suitable means or objects for the purpose of lifting said objects, either singly or in multiples. This feature is particularly adapted to handling ingot moulds in setting and stripping casting pits, the jaws in the closed position carrying the ingot moulds together without interference of bits shown at 76 and 77.

To summarize, the manipulator unit herein disclosed comprises a platform or carriage from which a manipulator orgrappling device turnably depends, and upon which motors are mountedfor turning the manipulator' relative to the support and for operating the manipulator or grappling device to or from work seizing or holding position. The unit is such that it may be pendulously suspended, (i. e. suspended from a single point) from a crane hook, or similar device attached to an overhead crane cable. Vhon so suspended the manipulator may be turned by its motor relative to the carriage or platform without causing either the platform to turn or the flexible support or cable to twist.

Such a manipulator unit may be attached to the cable of any overhead crane or movable support adapted to raise or lower heavy objects or loads.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of this invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes, modifications, substitutions and omissions may be made in the tongs without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 7

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination a frame, a vertically movable post disposed within said frame, a pair of tongs jaws, toggles pivotally connecting the upper ends of said jaws to said post, toggles pivotally connected to said jaws near to their lower ends, a plurality of racks can ried by said frame, gear segments carried by said post operatively connected to said first mentioned toggles, said segments meshing with said racks and means for raising and lowering said post, said segments and racks as the post is raised or lowered causing said toggles to turn about their pivotal connection of the post, thereby operating said aws.

2. In combination a frame, a vertically movable post disposed within said frame, a pair of tongs jaws, toggles pivotally connecting the upper ends of said aws to said post, toggles pivotally connected to said jaws near to their lower ends and to the post, a plurality of racks carried by said frame, gear segments carried by said post operatively connected to said first mentioned toggles, said segments meshing with said racks and means for raising and lowering said post, said segments and racks as the post is raised or low ered causing said toggles to turn about their pivotal connection to the post, thereby operating said jaws.

8. In combination a frame, a Vertically movable post disposed within said frame, a pair of tongs jaws, toggles pivotally connecting the upper ends of said jaws to said post, toggles pivotally connected to said jaws near to their lower ends, a plurality of racks carried by said frame, gear segments carried by said post operatively connected to said first mentioned toggles, said segments meshing with said racks, means for raising and lowering said post, said segments and racks as the post is raised or lowered causing said toggles to turn about their pivotal connection to the post to thereby operate said jaws, and,

means guiding said jaws and post in the easmg.

4:. In combination a frame, a vertically movable post disposed within said frame, a pair of tongs jaws, toggles pivotally connecting the upper ends of said jaws to said post, toggles pivotally connected to said jaws near to their lower ends and to the post, a plurality of racks carried by said frame, gear segments carried by said post operatively connected to said first mentioned toggles, said segments meshing with said racks, means for raising and lowering said post, said segments and racks as the post is raised or lowered causing said toggles to turn about their pivotal connection to the post to thereby operate said jaws, and means guiding said jaws and post in the casing.

53. In combination a frame, a movable post in said frame, vertically and horizontally movable tongs jaws guided in the frame, gear operated toggles for opening and closing the jaws as thepostis moved, and means for movingthe postQ 6. In combination a frame, a movable post in said frame, tongs jaws guided in the frame, gear operated toggles pivotally connected to the post and jaws for opening and closing the jaws as the post is moved, and means for moving the post.

7. In Combination a. frame, a vertically movable post in said frame, vertically and horizontally movable, tongs jaws guided in the frame, gear operated toggles for opening and closing the jaws as the post is moved, and means for moving the post.

.8. A manipulator unit comprising a flexible support having a platform suspended therefrom at one point, means to hold said platform stationary relative to the support, a manipulator tin ably supported by the platform, and motive means on the platform for turning the manipulator relative to the platform.

9. The combination with a flexible support, of a manipulator unit comprising a platform having means whereby it may be removably suspended from said flexible support, means to hold said platform stationary relative to the support, a manipulator turnably supportel by said platform, and motive means carried by said unit for turning the ma ipulator relative to the platform.

10. A manipulator unit comprisinfr a flexible support having a platform pendulously suspended therefrom at one point, a manipulator turnably supported by the platform, motive means on the platform for turning said manipulator relative to the platform, and motive means on said platform for operating the manipulator.

11. A manipulator unit comprising a flexible support having a sheave block and a crane hook thereon, platform removably sus pended. from said hook, means on said platform to hold said block and platform station- 'ary relative to each other, a manipulator turnably suspended from the platform and having load carrying means adapted to be actuated to load engaging or disengaging position, motor means on the platform for turning; the manipulator relative to the platform flexible support and hook, and motor means on. said platform for operating the manipulator means to or from load engaging position.

12. A manipulator unit comprising); a flexible support having a sheave block and crane hook thereon, a platform removably suspended from said hook, means to lock the platform a gain st turning relative to the block, a manipulator including work gripping members turnably suspended from said platform, motor means carried by said unit arranged to turn the manipulator relat ve to said plat form and flexible support, and motor means carried by. said unit for operating the we! gripping members.

13. A manipulator unit comprising a flexible support having a sheave block and a crane hook thereon, a platform removably suspended from said hook, means on the platform coacting with the block to hold said block stationary relative to the platform, a manipulator including work handling tongs, said manipulator being turnably suspended from said platform, motor means carried by said unit for turning the manipulator relative to said platform and flexible support, and means carried by said unit for operating said tongs.

14. The combination with a flexible support having, a sheave block and a crane hook thereon. of a platform rcmovably suspended from said hook. means on the platform coacting with the block to hold said block stationary relative to the platform, a work handlino manipulator turnably mounted on the platform, motor means for turning; the manipulator relative to the platform, and motor means for operating the manipulat r to or from work handling position.

15. A work handling unit adapted to be removably suspended from the hook of a flexible support such as the hoistiue; cable of a traveling crane, boom or the like, said device comprising a platform having means whereby it may be removably suspended from a flexible support, means on the platform to hold the platform stationary relative to the support, a grappling; device turnably mounted on the platform, and a motor c ilQCl by said unit having; a driving connectlon with said grappling; device arranged to turn the same relative to the support.

16. A work handling unit adapted to be removably suspended at a single point from a flexible support such as the hoisting cable of a traveling crane, boom or the like, and

'operated from a remote point, said device comprising a platform having means whereby it maybe removably suspended from a flexible support, a grappling device turnably mounted on the platform, a motor carried by said unit having a driving connection with said grappling device arranged to turn the same rela tive to the platform and support and a motor carried by said unit for operating" said grappling device to or from work seizing; position.

17. A manipulator unit comprising; a platform having means thereon wherebv it may be suspended at one point from the crane hook of a flexible support, means on the platform adapted to coact with the flexible support to prevent turning of the platform relative to the support, a manipulator turnably supported by the platform, and motive means on the platform for turning the manipulator relative to the platform.

18. The combination with a flexible sup port such as a crane cable, or the like, of a manipulator unit comprising an upper frame, a lower frame suspended on the up per frame for rotary movement, motor means on the platform operatively connected to the lower frame for turning said lower frame relative to the upper frame, means on the upper frame for suspending said unit from the flexible support at a single point, and means rigidly mounted on the upper platform adapted to engage the support to prevent turning of the platform relative to the support.

19. The combination with an overhead crane cable having a sheave block suspended therefrom and a crane hook carried by said block, of a Work handling unit comprising a horizontally disposed platform relnovably supported from said hook at a point in line with the vertical geometrical axis of the unit, means coacting with the platform and sheave block for holding the platform and block in fixed relationship to each other, a load carrying member turnably supported from said platform at the vertical geometrical axis thereof, and a motor on the platform for turning said load carrying member about said vertical axis.

20. The combination with a hoisting cable having a sheave block and a crane hook thereon, of a platform supported on said hook, means coacting with said block and platform to prevent turning of the platform relative to said sheave block, a manipulator rotatably supported from said platform, and motor means on the platform for turning said manipulator.

21. A manipulator unit comprising aflexible support having a sheave block mounted on the support and a hook turnably supported by the block, a platform suspended from said hook, means on the platform cooperating With said block to prevent relative turning movement between the platform and block, a manipulator turnably supported from the platform, motive means on the platform for turning the manipulator relative to the platform, and motive means on the platform for actuating the manipulator to or from load engaging position.

22. A manipulator unit comprising a platform having load handling mechanism turnably suspended therefrom, a motor on the platform having a driving connection With said mechanism to turn the same relative to the platform, and supporting members on said platform having a pin extending therethrough and adapted to be engaged by a crane hook, said supporting members being disposed to engage a sheave block in which the crane hook is mounted, to prevent relative turning between the sheave block and platform.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day ofMay, 1928.

SANFORD E. MGQUIGG. 

